Heater for brooders.



C. L. VENNUM..

HEATER FOR BROODERS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 18. I917.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

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HEATER FOR BROODERS.

APSLICATION FILED APR. 18. m1.

Patented Apr. 2,1918.

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[WITNESSES STATES CLARENCE L. VENNUM, OF CHESTER, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD TO DAVID DUMMER, 0F WARWOOD, WEST VIRGINIA, AND ONE-THIRD T0 W. B. HILTON,

0F WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA.

HEATER FOB. BROODERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

Application filed April 18, 1917. Serial No. 162,903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE L. VENNUM, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Chester, county of Hancock, and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heaters for Brooders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to brooders, and more particularly to a heater for brooders.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a heating apparatus whereby an approximately uniform temperature may be maintained within a brooder or other similar inclosure.

A further object is to provide a heating device of the character indicated which is extremely simple and inexpensive in its construction, which embodies no parts which require adjustment, and which is self-contained and readily applicable to practically any of the various commercial or homemade types ofbrooders and incubators.

A still further object is to provide a de vice embodying simple and positive heatcontrolling means which is automatic in its operation and which dispenses with the use of thermostats or other complex and expensive regulating means.

A still further object within the contemplation of the invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned embodying a water container or boiler which is disposed interiorly of the inclosure constituting the body of the brooder in a position permitting chicks to nestle or cuddle close thereto or thereagainst for receiving a desired degree of warmth.

With these and other important objects in view, the invention resides in the features of construction, arrangement of parts and combinations of elements which will hereinafter be fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention' Fig. 2 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in section, showing the invention mounted in position;

Fig. 3 is a central section of the water container and rigidly attached parts;

Fig. 4: is a similar section of the control valve; and

Fig. 5 is a section of the removable central tube or fine.

Referring to said drawings, in which like designating characters distinguish like parts throughout the several 'views 1 indicates a cylindrical sheet-1netal water container or boiler which has extended centrally therethrough a vertical tube 2 which constitutes a flue adapted for conducting heat emanating from any suitable form of heater or lamp (not shown) disposed beneath said boiler. Said boiler has mounted thereon adjacent to its bottom a plurality of supporting brackets 3 designed to seat upon the floor l of the brooder, said floor being provided with an aperture 5, conforming in size and form to the boiler, through which the lower end of said boiler depends, as shown in Fig. 2. The tube 2 is made of such greater length than the height of the boiler that its upper end projects outward through the top 6 of the brooder casing.

concentrically disposed within the tube 2 is a second tube or flue 7, open at both ends and of greater length than said tube 2, the same havin its lower end resting; upon the bottom 1 o the boiler in encircling relation to an opening 8 through which pass heat and other products of combustion from the heater. Said fine 7 is provided with a plurality of perforations 9 adjacent to its lower end, through which, when its upper end is closed, as will hereinafter be explained, the baffled products of combustion pass to the interior of the tube 2, whence they pass to and are discharged to the atmosphere through perforations 10 provided in said tube 2 above the top 6, the upper end of said tube 2 being closed by a flue-centering and bracing collar or flange 11 carried by the flue 7 Rigidly mounted upon the top of the boiler 1 is an upright tube 12 of relatively small diameter which is in open communication at its lower end with the interior of the boiler. Said tube 12, which is designed to constitute a float chamber, rises to a height or level approximating that of the flue 7 and carries on its upper end one or more upright guide members or pins 13. Disposed loosely and vertically movable within said tube or float chamber is a float tube 14: which may be of any appropriate character, but which is herein shown as composed of a slender metallic tube'having its lower end closed and which depends a suitable distance within the boiler. Rigidly carried upon the upper end I of said float tube is a horizontal plate-like member 15 having one end shaped to form a flat valve 15 which, in the normal lowered position of said float tube, rests in overlying closing relation to the upper end of the flue 7. The guide pins 13 of the float chamber or guiding-tube 12 are received by apertures 16 provided therefor in said member 15 and serve to maintain the latter in a position wherein the valve 15 is constantly in alinement with the flue.

In practice, heat emanating from a properly located heater enters the interior of the flue 7 through the bottom opening 8. Assuming that the float tube 141- occupies its normal lowered position with the valve l5 seated in closing relation to the flue 7, the battled heat passes through the perforations 9 to the tube 2, whence it courses to and through the perforations 10 of said tube. parted to said tube is absorbed by the water within the boiler. The water, which must completely fill the boiler and should stand within the guiding tube 12 at a predetermined normal height or level, expands under the action of the heat and, consequently, rises within said guiding tube, carrying therewith the float tube 1a, elevating the valve 15*. Unseating of said valve opens the flue 7 to the direct passage of heat through the latter. When the boiler has once been heated to a predetermined temperature to which the weight of the float tube and the height of the column of water in the guiding tube have been relatively gaged preliminarily, heat is diverted into the tube 2 only in suflicient volume to maintain the water at said temperature, the excess 01 heat over the volume requisite to main tain the expansion at-a point where the valve is elevated being permitted to escape past said valve. Substantial uniformity of temperature is thus automatically produced for long periods of time without personal attention and without regard to climatic changes,

Heat imthe only variation which is likely to result being such as is efl'ected or induced by the lowering of the water level through evaporation.

What is claimedis I 1. An automatic damper regulator for brooder-heating boilers, comprising, in combination with a boiler having inner and outer concentric heat-conducting flues With the upper end of the former extended above the latter, a vertical guiding tube rising from the top of the boiler and having its lower end in open communication with the latter, a float tube vertically movable in said guiding tube and having its upper end extended above the latter, a valve stationarily mounted upon said float tube and disposed in overlying relation to the inner of said flues, said float tube being adapted to be elevated and lowered by expansion and contraction of water within said guiding tube for elevating and lowering said valve from and into closing relation to the lastmentioned flue. 2. An automatic damper regulator for brooder-heating boilers, comprising, in combination with a boiler having inner and outer flues for the products of combustion, said flues being disposed. concentrically and the inner ,flue'having its upper end extended above the top of the outer flue, a vertical guiding tube rising from the top of the boiler to approximately the level of the top of its inner flue andhaving its lower end in open communication with the boiler, a float tube vertically movable in said guiding tube and having its upperend protruding from the latter, a closure for said inner fluer'igidly mounted in a horizontal. position upon said float tube, said closure being .adaptedito be elevated from and lowered into closing relation to said inner flue as said float tube is elevated and lowered by expansion and contraction of water within said guiding tube, and means maintaining said float tube against rotary movement.

In testimony whereof, I ,aflix my signature in'presence'of two subscribing witnesses.

CLARENCE L. VENNUM. Vitnesses A. Gr. ALLIsoN, H. H. HARRISON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for fivfe cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, at. I 

